Manatee Players to Bring Don Quixote Musical to Local Stage

BRADENTON – The Tony award-winning musical Man of La Mancha comes to the Manatee Performing Arts Center this month. The play is adapted from Dale Wasserman's nonmusical 1959 teleplay, I Don Quixote, which itself is based on Miguel de Cervantes's legendary 17th-century masterpiece Don Quixote, a one of a kind comedy about the adventures of an insane man who thinks he is a Knight.

The musical tells the story as a play within a play, performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. Songs include ‘The Impossible Dream’, ‘Dulcinea’, ‘I Really Like Him’ and ‘Man of La Mancha (I, Don Quixote)’.

The role of ‘Don Quixote’ is being brought to life by Robert Austin with his man servant ‘Sancho’ being played by Stephen F. Pustai II. The role of ‘Aldonza’ is played by Eve Caballero. Rounding out the cast is Rod Rawlings, Charles Craig, Michelle Anaya, Janet Davies, Leah Denton, Betty Robinson, Heath Jorgenson, Philip Alexander, Adam Baker, Peter Apolos, Timothy Polk, Mitcheal Pearl, Rich Pullen, Sarah Baeder and Nancy Brining.

The show is being directed by Bob Trisolini with Phyllis Gessler as musical director. It opens March 10; performances are Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $27-$37 including facility fee for adults, $15-$18 including facility fee for teachers and $13-$16 including facility fee for students.

Tickets may be reserved by calling 941-748-5875 Monday – Friday from 9-5 and one hour before curtain on performance days or on the Manatee Players’ website: www.manateeplayers.com. All performances are at the Manatee Performing Arts Center at 502 3rd Avenue West in downtown Bradenton.